Misconceptions about war disablement pension - many more could claim

But other non-physical injuries such as a disease which causes a disability will also lead to a pension.

A change of policy in the 1990s virtually ended claims for deafness unless the effects on hearing were well-documented shortly after the events which caused them.

The injury does not have to be completely caused by service.

People who have an existing condition which is made worse by things that happen to them in service can also claim a pension.

For example, a bad back can be made worse, a breathing problem can be exacerbated.

For World War II, the injury does not have to have occurred in the armed forces, as special rules apply to the period from 1939-1945.

Anyone who served in the Home Guard, the Auxiliary Nursing Corps, the fire service and various other units can claim for injuries as if they had been in the forces.

Anyone involved in civil defence who suffered an injury in the course of their duties can also claim.

Even civilians can claim if they were injured by enemy action, or action taken on our side to combat the enemy.

Widows' pensions

A woman married to a man who gets a war disablement pension can claim a war widow's pension if her husband's death was 'attributable' to his injury.

That is often a hard and lengthy battle to fight.

However, if her husband's disability was at least 80% and he got a supplement because he could not work, then she should automatically get a war widow's pension after his death.

How much?

The pension is paid at different rates depending on the severity of the disability.

It ranges from �116 a week for someone whose disability is assessed at 100% down to �23.20 a week for someone with a 20% disability.

There are extra amounts for the more severely injured and for those whose earning power was reduced and for some pensioners are 65.

War widows now get �144 a week with age allowances starting at 65. All war disablement pensions are free of income tax.

Someone whose disability is assessed at less than 20% gets a lump-sum gratuity ranging from �306 for a minor short-term injury, to �7169 for a more serious and durable disability.

Claiming a war disablement pension takes longer than any other benefit.

The target time to deal with a claim is an astonishing 20 weeks with a further year if there is an appeal.